Wall straightening support assembly

ABSTRACT

A wall straightening support assembly having a floor bracket secured to a floor and a jack assembly secured to and extending between a pair of joists. A support member is positioned between a collapsing wall and both the jack assembly and the floor bracket such that the jack assembly applies selective force to the support member to push the wall back to straight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed toward an assembly for straightening and supporting a wall, and more particularly to an assembly that distributes a load between a pair of joists to push a wall back straight.

Devices for straightening and reinforcing walls are known in the art. One such device is connected to a joist that with the use of a jack, pushes the wall back to a straight position. While useful, the load is placed on a single joist which provides a weaker connection and less leverage for straightening. Thus, a need exists in the art for a device that addresses this deficiency.

An objective of the invention is to provide a wall straightening assembly that has a stronger connection.

A further objective of the present invention is to have a wall straightening assembly that draws off of a pair of joists.

These and other objectives will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A wall straightening support assembly includes a floor bracket secured to a floor and a support member having a first end positioned between the floor bracket and a wall. A second end of the support member is positioned between a jack assembly and the wall. The jack assembly is connected to and extends between the joists such that sufficient force is applied to the support member by the jack assembly to straighten and support the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wall straightening support assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a wall straightening support assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a jack assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, a wall straightening support assembly 10 includes a floor bracket 12 secured to the floor 14 of a structure adjacent a wall 16. A first end 18 of an elongated support member 20 is positioned between the floor bracket 12 and the wall 16. Preferably, the floor bracket 12 is L-shaped, made of a two-inch angle iron with two bolts 13 extending vertically through the floor bracket 12 into the floor. The vertical alignment of the bolts allows for two parallel lines where force is exerted against the floor bracket which cuts in half the weight distributed between the bolts and doubles the pressure the bracket 12 can absorb without splitting.

A second end 22 of the support member 20 is positioned between a jack assembly 24 and the wall 16. Preferably, the support member is a four inch beam as opposed to a four inch channel iron. Under pressure, a four inch channel iron will flex resulting in structural failure. With a four inch beam there is no flex or structural failure and the wall is rigidly supported with appropriately strengthened material. The jack assembly 24 is connected to and extends between a pair of joists 26. As an example, the jack assembly has a pair of L-shaped joist brackets 28 that are connected to an interior surface of the joists 26 such that portions of the brackets 28 that extend inwardly generally lie in the same plane.

A C-shaped stabilizing member 30 fits over the extended portions of the joist brackets 28. The stabilizing member 30 has a central threaded aperture 32 that receives a threaded bolt 34.

In operation, the floor bracket 12 is secured to the floor 14 preferably with a bolt and nut. The floor bracket 12 is positioned adjacent wall 16 such that support member fits when in an angled position. The joist brackets 28 are then mounted to the joists 26 such that the stabilizing member 30 when mounted on brackets 28 engages or nearly engages the second end 22 of support member 20. Once positioned, bolt 34 is threadably received through aperture 32. As bolt 34 is rotated, force is applied against the second end 22 of the support member 20 from the bolt 34, the stabilizing member 30 pressing against the joist brackets 28, and the first end 18 of the support member 20 pressing against the floor bracket 12. The force is sufficient to press the support member 20 to a generally perpendicular position in relation to the floor and straighten and support the wall 16.

Accordingly, a wall straightening support assembly has been disclosed that at the very least meets all the stated objectives. 

1. A wall straightening support assembly for straightening a wall, comprising: a floor bracket secured to a floor adjacent a collapsing wall; a jack assembly having a pair of joist brackets connected to an interior surface of adjacent joists and a stabilizing member that fits over the pair of joist brackets and extends between the adjacent joists; and a non-flexible support member positioned between both the floor bracket and the jack assembly and the collapsing wall such that the jack assembly applies selective force against the support member to push the wall to straight.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the stabilizing member has a central aperture that threadably receives a bolt.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the floor bracket is secured to the floor with a pair of vertically aligned bolts.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a C-shaped member that defines a channel and the pair of joist brackets are positioned within the channel of the stabilizing member as the jack assembly applies selective force against the support member.
 7. A wall straightening support assembly for straightening a wall, comprising: a floor bracket; a jack assembly formed of a first joist bracket, a second joist bracket and a stabilizing member; a rigid support member that extends a length between a first end and a second end; the floor bracket secured to a floor adjacent a collapsing wall; the first joist bracket secured to an inner surface of a first joist; the second joist bracket secured to an inner surface of a second joist, adjacent the first joist; the stabilizing member is formed of a C-shaped member having a channel therein; the stabilizing member placed over the first joist bracket and second joist bracket after the first joist bracket is secured to the first joist and second joist bracket is secured to the second joist, such that the first joist bracket and second joist bracket are positioned within the channel of the stabilizing member; the first end of the rigid support member placed adjacent the floor bracket; and the second end of the rigid support member placed adjacent the jack assembly such that the jack assembly applies selective force against the support member to push the wall to a straight condition.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first joist bracket and the second joist bracket are formed of an L-shaped member.
 9. A method of straightening a wall using a support assembly, the steps comprising: providing a floor bracket, providing a jack assembly formed of a first joist bracket, a second joist bracket and a stabilizing member wherein the stabilizing member is formed of a C-shaped member having a channel therein; providing a rigid support member that extends a length between a first end and a second end; securing the floor bracket to a floor adjacent a collapsing wall; securing the first joist bracket to an inner surface of a first joist; securing the second joist bracket to an inner surface of a second joist, adjacent the first joist; placing the stabilizing member placed over the first joist bracket and second joist bracket after the first joist bracket is secured to the first joist and second joist bracket is secured to the second joist, such that the first joist bracket and second joist bracket are positioned within the channel of the stabilizing member; placing the first end of the rigid support member between the wall and the floor bracket; placing the second end of the rigid support member between the jack assembly and the wall; and straightening the wall by applying selective force onto the rigid support by the jack assembly.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein selective force is applied to the rigid support by rotating a bolt threadably received by the stabilizing member. 